REMINISCENCES OF DERT DRAGE 



that, as I have recorded, I sold to Sir Henri 

 Deterding. 



I once had a fortnight stag hunting, and I so well 

 remember being entertained by the father of the 

 present Lord Fortescue. I fear I made a very bad 

 impression when I said, during lunch : " I don't 

 suppose you take this stag hunting very seriously. 

 Lord Fortescue ? " I remember there was dead 

 silence. You see, it was to them the same as 

 fox hunting was to me. 



Another amusing incident I must relate. I was 

 in the train on my way to John Gaunt. I had not 

 shaved, and so I took off my coat and went into the 

 lavatory to shave. The train pulled up at 

 Brixworth, and I heard the station-master say : 

 " It is only Mr. Drage, my Lord." Of course I 

 had to come out, and there sat Lord Chaplin — 

 very amused. 



On one occasion when I broke my leg out hunting 

 with the Quorn I was taken back to John Gaunt. 

 My leg was bound up and I travelled home in the 

 guard's van — a very unpleasant experience. I 

 once had a hunt late in the day and had to ride into 

 Nottingham and box my horse back to John Gaunt. 



I can never forget riding to the meet one day 

 with " Ikey " Bell. He would ride straight 

 across country, and he took a nasty fall and arrived 

 at the meet with his hat smashed and covered with 

 dirt. But that did not trouble him. He was 

 such a good fellow and a great friend of mine for 



50 



